Stapling device



J. 5.A BATES sTAPLING DEvIcE Filed sepan 20, '1928 v 2 sneet-sheet 1Nov.l2,l92& 4'.LaATEs STAPLING DEVICE Filed sept. zo. 192e 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 12, 1929 JESSE G. BATES, F CHICAGO,ILLINOIS STAPLING DEVICE Application filed September 20, 1928. SerialNo. 307,198.

10 for feeding the staple strip step-by-step to the plunger, to providea ,feeding mechanism of this kind which will secure the forward stapleagainst tilting during its movement to the plunger; to provide improvedmeans for securing the staples against backward movement in theirguideway; to provide an improved form of gate for limiting the forwardmovement of the strip; to provide a gate of this kind which isretractable to permit lthe entire strip of staples to be readilywithdrawn from the machine; and to provide a stapling device having animproved form and arrangement of'parts whereby the last staple in astripis automatically ejected, unused, from the machine after the precedingstaple has been acted upon by the plunger.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly insection, of a stapling device to which this invention is applied, partof a staple strip being also shown.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same, part of the plunger handlebeing broken away.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan of the same.

,Fig 4 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the position assumed bythe last staple of A Y a strip as it is ejected past the gate, the Viewbeing taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective of the,

plunger. n

Fig. 7 is 'an enlarged perspective of the feeding element.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged perspective of the supporting and guiding meansfor the strip of staples.

V Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8 andshowing the means for securing the staples against backward movement. v

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the device showing the gateopen and a strip of staples partially withdrawn. y

In the construction illustrated, the improved stapling device comprisesasupport 1, having a guideway 2 for supporting and guiding a strip ofU-shaped staples 3, which are severed and driven into the work by aplunger 4, to which the strip is fed by an improved feeding mechanism 5.

The support 1 is preferably a metal casting comprising a base 6 and head7 having an in tegral handle 8.

The improved guideway 2 includes a chann nel 9 in which is located arail 10 for supporting and guiding the strip of staples. .The

channel 9 is formed in the base part 6 and is.

'coeXtensive therewith. An inlet opening 11 at the rear end ofthechannel permits the insertion of the staple strip and an outlet open-.ing 12 at the forward end of the channel permits the withdrawal of thestrip if desiredI and also permits the ejection of the last staple ashereinafter described.

The guide-rail 10y is `located in the forward part of the channel 9 andis rigidly secured to the base 6 by rivets 13 or other suitable fasten-Aing means.

In the form shown, the rail 10 includes a bar 14 on which is rigidlymounted a cutter plate 15.. By making the bar 14 and plate 15 in twoparts, it is not necessary to harden the 'entire rail. The plate 15 ismade of hardened steel and the bar 14 may be a die casting.

The plate 15 supports the staple strip and, therefore, is slightlynarrower than the staples so as to permit the strip to slide free-- ly.The upper part of the bar 14 is reduced in cross section so as toprovide passages 16 for the prongs of the staples. The rear end of the lrail 10 is tapered, as shown at 17, to facilitate the insertion of thestaples. Y

Formed on opposite sides of the bar 14, adjacent the forward endthereof, is a pair of recesses 18, through which dust or other foreignparticles may be expelled from the guide- Way. l

, gage'thje Cam plate 35.

Mounted on the rail adjacent the forward end thereof, is a detentmechanism arranged to secure the staples against backward movement. 1nthe form shown, the (le rent mechanism includes a pair of detentslocated on respectively opposite sides of the bar 14,.a11'd having theirrear ends pivotally secured thereto by pins 20.

The detente are normally urged outwardly int-o engagement with the'yprongs of the staples 3 by a spring 21 which extends through atransversely disposed opening.- 22` formed in the bar 14. By engagingthe prongs of the staples, the detentel 1'9"' positively secure thestaples against any backward tilting' during the detraction ofthefeeding mechanism 5", as hereinafter described.

The plunger 4 is slidable in a guideway' 23, formed in the head 7, andis provided with a cutting edge 24 adapted to coact with the forwardedge' of the plate 15 for severing the foremost staple from the strip.The lower end of the plunger is adapted to drive the severed stapleIthrough a guideway 25 extending substantially normal tothe guideway 2.

Mounted on' the outer end of the plunger 4,y is a knob 26 and, looselyembracing the plunger, is a cup' shaped' washer 27 which bears againstthe head 7.

Bearing between the knob 26 and washer 27, is a spring 28, whichnormally retracts the plunger tol its inoperative position, as shown inFig'. 1. The plunger is secured against withdrawal from the head 7 by apin 29 extending transversely throughl the head in position to engage ashoulder 30 formed on the plunger.

In the form shown, the improved feeding mechanism 5 comprises a pawl 31located in the rear' part of the guideway 23 and pivotally secured tothe head 7 by a pin 32.

The lower end of the pawl 31 *is formed so as to be adapted' to straddlethe guide-rail 10' and is provided with a pair of spaced fingers 33adapted to engage the two prongs of a staple for feeding the stripforwardly in a step-by-step movement. By engaging the two prongs ofv thestaple, the pawlf'31 secures the staple against any tilting during theforward movement. i v

The pawl '31 is moved forwardly, for feeding the staples', under theaction of a spring 34 which embraces the pin 32. OneA end of the spring34 engages the wall of the head 7 andthe other end thereof bears againstan` inclined cam plate 35 formed on the pawl.

The backward stroke of the feed pawl 31 is positively limited anadjustable screw 36 mounted in the head 7 and positioned to en- Tlijecam plte 3,5A "s located in the path of the shoulder 30 so that upon theoperative stroke of4 the plunger, the pawl 31 is retracted forengagement with another staple.

The forward movement of the strip of staples is limited by a gate 37,which eomprises a resilient arm 38 pivotally secured to the head 7 by apin 39. The free end of the arm' 38 is bent to provide a shoulder 40,which is adapted to be seated in one side of the' outlet 12 forpreventingkr the withdrawal of' the strip. The shoulder 40 is providedwith a: project-ion 41 adapted to enter a recesss- 42 in the base 6 forsecuring the gate against accidental withdrawal.

Y .Tine arm 38 is slightly bent, as shown at V43, so that the free endthereof must be pressed toward the base @before the shoulder can enterthe opening 12.

The gate 37 obstructs one side of the outlet 12 and therefore makes itimpossible tov remove tlie strip of staples without retracting the gate,as illustrated in Fig. 10'. However,

when only one staple is left, it is ejected past the gate in the mannerindicated in Fig. 4.

In operation, a strip of staples is placed in the guideway 2 and movedforwardly until the foremost staple engages' thev shoulder 40 of thegate. 4, the foremost staple Vis vsever-'ed from the strip' and` driventhrough the guideway 25 into the work operated upon. During thedepression of the plunger, the shoulder 3() moves the feed pawl 31rearwardly to permit the fingers 33 to engage the prongs of anotherstaple.

During the retraction of the feed pawl 31, the staples are securedagainst backward movement by the improved d'etents 19. Upon the returnstroke of the plunger, the pawl 31 is actuated by the spring 34 forfeeding the staples one step forwardly.

r1`he springl 34 is arranged so as to enablev the pawl 31 to exertconsiderable pressure on" the staple strip and', therefore, if the gate37 were open during the forward movement of the pawl, the forward end ofthe staple strip would be projected through the outlet 12 beyond theguideway 25 by` the catapulting action of the-pawl 31.

As long as the gate 37 is closed it is impossible for two connectedstaples to pass beyond the guideway 25 because, in order to pass thegatel 37,itis necessary that the' staple shift to a diagonal position,as shown in Fig.

' 4. Theeutlet opening 12 is not of sufficient width topermit twoconnected' sta-plesto turn diagonally therein and, therefore, when thegate 37 is closed th-e foremost staple o-f the 9' strip stops inalinement with the guideway 25.

After the next to the last staple is driven through the guideway 25, thefeed pawl 31 ejects the last staple through the opening 12' in themanner illustrated in Fig. 4.

The last staple of theI strip is alwayswasted in any type of staplingdevice but, with the devices heretofore in use, the last staple hasmerely Afallen out of the same opening' By depressing the plungerthrough which the preceding staples were driven.y With prior devices,the last staple frequency became caught in the outlet and clogged themachine.

loggingof the machine is avoided in devices embodying this inventionbecause the last staple of each strip is automatically ejected throughthe outlet l2.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has ben hereinshown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined buv the following claims.

I claim:

l. A stapling device comprising a support, a guideway on said supportfor a strip of staples, said guideway having an outlet at one end inprolongation thereof, means for severing the foremost staple from thestrip, and mechanism for feeding the strip along said guideway to saidsevering means, said feeding mechanism being adaptedv to throw the laststaple of the strip to eject same through said outlet after thepreceding staple has been severed.

2. A stapling device comprising a support, a guideway on said supportfor a. strip of staples, said guideway being open at one end for theinsertion of the strip, means for severingthe foremost staple from thestrip, and mechanism for feeding the strip to said severing means, saidguideway having an outletopening at its opposite end in prolongationtherof, said feeding mechanism being adapted to throw the last staple ofthe strip to eject same through said outlet after the preceding staplehas been severed.

3. A stapling device comprising a support, a guideway on said supportfor a strip of staples, said guideway having an outlet at one end inprolongation thereof, means for severing the-foremost staple from thestrip, mechanism for feeding the strip along said guideway to saidsevering means, and a stop `in said outlet for limiting the forwardmovement of the strip, said feeding mechanism being adapted to throw thelast staple of the strip to eject same through said outlet.

4l. A stapling device comprising a support, a guideway on said supportfor a strip of staples, said guideway having an outlet opening at itsforward end in prolongation thereof, means for severing the foremoststaple from the strip and driving it in a direction substantially normalto the strip, mechanism for feeding the strip along said guideway tosaid severing means, and a gate located in said outlet for limiting theforward movement of said strip, said gate being retractable to permitthe stripto be withdrawn through said outlet, said feeding mechanismbeing.

adapted to throw the last staple of the strip to eject same through saidoutlet.

5. A stapling device comprising a support, a guideway on said supportfor a strip of staples, said guideway having an outlet opening at itsforward end in prolongation thereof, means for severing the foremoststaple from the strip and driving it in a direction substantially normalto the strip, mechanism for feeding the strip along said guideway tosaid severing means, and a gate located in said outlet at one sidethereof for limiting the forward movement of said strip, the oppositeside of said outlet being unobstructed to permit the ejectiontherethrough of the last staple of the strip.

Signed at Chicago this 15th day of September, 192s.

JESSE G. BATES.

